Maternal height as a contributory factor towards birth of small for date infants

A case control study of "small for date" and premature infants was conducted at 17 hospitals in Tehran between December 1989 and June 1990. The study population consisted of mothers of 347 small for date, 261 premature and 1164 normal infants. Mothers who were less than 18 years old and their height less than 155 cm had a statistically significant R. R, F.+ [2.18] for the birth of small for date infants, while mothers of the same age group but with a height of 155-159 or 160-165 cm had an R.R.F. of 2.61 and 1.41, respectively. It was therefore concluded that an increase in height did not decrease the R.R.F. for birth of small for date infants in teen-age mothers. Mothers older than 18 years, 18-29 and 30-39 years with a height of less than 155 cm had an R.R.F. of 1.63 and 1.47, respectively, both being statistically significant concerning the birth of small for date infants. Whilst in mothers taller than 155 cm and older than 18 years no significant risk factor was noted, it was concluded that a maternal height of less than 155 cm seems to be a contributory factor to birth of small for date infants. In this study no association was established between maternal height and prematurity. Since 57% of LB W t infants were small for date, any measures aiming at decreasing this figure would be beneficial to the individual as well as to the community. Short-term measures such as marriage at an older age, availability of contraception to teen-age mothers, and more years of education for girls may help decrease the proportion of small for date infants

Duration and cases of cessation of breast feeding in working mothers in Ghazvin, Iran

Questionnaires were filled out during summer 1988 from 259 working mothers who terminated breast feeding, and at least had a living child aged three years or younger. The purpose of the study was to determine the duration and the reasons of termination of breast feeding in these working women. An inverse correlation was found between the duration of breast feeding and the following parameters: The introduction of breast feeding for the first time after birth [p<.05] and the mother's ages at the first marriage, pregnancy and delivery, and also her age at last delivery [p<.0001, p<.002, p< .003 and p< .006 respectively]. A positive correlation also was found between the duration of breast feeding and the age of introduction of supplementary feeding. The difference between the mean duration of breast feeding and the kind of first food given after birth was statistically significant [p<.02]. Insufficient milk and work outside the home were the most common causes of termination of breast feeding among these working mothers